The Collected Letters, Volume 4

It were very unreasonable in me to disapprove your hesitation in regard to an enterprize of such magnitude, much as I could
have wished to be myself concerned in the fulfilment of it. I am only sorry that the state of my own engagements renders a present decision necessary; and that tho' the time when your publication took place might be of comparatively little moment, the uncertainty of its ever taking place is not so.

If at the period you mention, or at any future one, you still think of publishing this work, I shall be very happy to hear
from you, to assist you with all the counsel in my power; and if possible, to undertake the Translation myself, tho' this
latter possibility might in that case, I fear, be very uncertain. Meanwhile I shall still wait ten days;1 and if within that time we can come to no definite arrangement (determining, I mean, that the Book at least is to be published), I shall consider myself as free from any engagement with you, and at liberty to form what other I please.

I remain

Will you make my compliments to “Q.” of the Examiner,2 if you know him, and say that I was much obliged by his criticism, tho' I have a crow to pluck with him3 on the subject of German mysticism. I have long known him in his literary watch-tower as a man of a sound and honest mind;
and value his approval more than that of any other score or gross of Newspaper Critics in the Island.

TC-H&C [HACL], [26 March]. Rough draft of MS: NLS, 1765.55. Hitherto unpbd. Hunt and Clarke had replied to Carlyle's proposals in their letter of
25 March in a somewhat noncommittal manner and had suggested that the project be delayed for at least six months.